All roads lead to Gifford High Scenes at a colourful event in dusty Chivi at Chidyamakono High School last Friday
Scenes at a colourful event in dusty Chivi at Chidyamakono High School last Friday

Scenes at a colourful event in dusty Chivi at Chidyamakono High School last Friday

Swag Mama recently in Chivi
Some teens are dreaming of finding themselves at Gifford High School from July 17 to 19 where the 27th edition of the Copa Coca-Cola edition will be spreading happiness to the best U17 Girls’ and U16 Boys’ school soccer teams in the country.

The battle lines have been drawn and some blood has already been let as the war for the prestigious and lucrative Copa Coca Cola tournaments rage.

Elimination rounds started last week on Friday to select the best teams in each province that will join the seeded teams to make up the 12 teams in each category that will be at Gifford High School.

Launched at a colourful event in dusty Chivi at Chidyamakono High School last Friday, this year’s edition sees schools from around the country vie for the prize moneys and the bragging rights.

Thanks to their star girls, Chidyamakono teens got to spend a day being entertained by the games mascot and also got a chance to meet some local football legends.

These included international player Harlington Shereni who had come in all the way from France, FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza, FC Platinum and young Warriors forward Walter Musona, Mighty Warriors coach Rosemary Mugadza, Mighty Warriors skipper Felistas “Figo” Muzongondi and Tsholotsho assistant coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda.

The host school for the launch Chidyamakono High are the reigning champions in the girls’ category after successfully defending the title they first scooped in 2013. The defending champions for boys is Chemhanza High School.

The winners for the boy’s tournament will walk away with $6 500, the runners up will be $5 000 richer while the third and fourth place winners will get $3 500 and $2 500 respectively.

The losing quarter finalists will each get $1 500 while the four bottom teams will be consoled with $1 200 for making it thus far. The team that gets the fair play vote will earn an extra $1 000.

For the girls, the prizes are much less with the winners walking away with $3 000 while the runner ups will have $2 000 as third and fourth placed teams get $1 500 and $1 000 respectively.

The losing quarter finalists will each receive $700 while the four bottom teams bag $500 for their pains. The team adjudged to have displayed the best fair play spirit will get an extra $500 to take home.

Other prizes include $100 for the top goal scorer and goal keeper as well as the player of the tournament in both categories. The two winning coaches will each get $200.

The organisers say, “Copa Copa-Cola is an international youth football tournament and a global celebration of football passion.

“It unites more than 1 million teens in over 60 countries around the world, promoting an active lifestyle and encouraging values that are the foundation of life and sportsmanship. It’s about team spirit, friendship and respect.

“The Copa Coca-Cola Tournament is more than a game. It’s an opportunity for teens to pursue their football dream, and in the process come together to make new friends and learn what it takes to be part of a team.”

Some of the local products of the tournament who have gone on to make it big in soccer over the past 27 years include Peter Ndlovu, Cephas Chimedza, Ovidy Karuru, Alois Bunjira, Johaness Ngodzo, Washington Arubi, Knowledge Musona and Norman Maroto.

Draw results:

Under 17 Girls

A1 Mashonaland East

A2 Matabeleland South

A3 Chidyamakono

B1 Mashonaland West

B2 Masvingo

B3 Harare

C1 Midlands

C2 Montrose

C3 Matabeleland North

D1 Mash Central

D2 Bulawayo

D3 Manicaland

Under 16 Boys

A1 Mashonaland Central

A2 Bulawayo

A3 Manicaland

B1 Harare

B2 Chemhanza

B3 Mash West

C1 Masvingo

C2 Midlands

C3 Gifford

D1 Matabeleland North

D2 Matabeleland South

D3 Mashonaland East

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